Machine for shaping cartons



June 10, 1941. c. w HARTMANN 2,245,193

MACHINE FOR SHAPING CARTONS Filed April 2'7, 1940 S Sheets-Sheet 1 June 10, 1941. c. w. HARTMANN MACHINE FOR SHAPING CARTONS Filed April 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4 T TOPNE vs N TM NT fi lmo J1me 1941- c. w. HARTMANN MACHINE FOR SHAPING CARTONS 5 ShPets-Sheet halve/we? C- w. Haernnmv Arrazmsvs Filed April 27, 1940 Patented June 10, 1941 MACHINE FOR SHAPING CARTONS Carl Wilhelm Hartmann, Lyngby, near Copenhagen, Denmark, assignor to Satona Limited,

Edinburgh, Scotland Application April 2'7, 1940, Serial No. 332,081 In Great Britain May 24, 1939 9 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for preparing cartons so that they may be readily and effectively closedwhen filled on suitable filling machines, and the invention is useful in connection with apparatus for use on machines which carry carton tubes through base closing and sealing means (e. g. as described in Patent No. 2,212,472) and from thence to a conveyor on which the cartons are carried mouth end uppermost towards a proofing stage or a filling stage or both. The object of this invention is to provide apparatus which will apply the requisite deformation to the mouth of each carton to ensure it folding readily when being sealed after filling. The invention is particularly suitable in the handling of cartons of the type in use for retailing liquids, in which a square section carton has on two opposed walls at its upper end two inverted Y shaped scorings and a continuous transverse scoring which joins the outer ends of the divergent limbs of the Y shaped scorings at the vertical corners of the carton, the mouth being closed by pinching towards each other concertina or pleat fashion the vertical limbs of the Y shaped scorings. The object of this invention is to provide means which will automatically pinch in the sides of the upper end of the cartons as they are carried by a suitable conveyor to the desired zone.

According to this invention apparatus for the purpose specified comprises members adapted to be automatically pressed against opposite sides of the carton tops when the cartons are located on a conveyor beneath them, and to automatically become disengaged-from the cartons to allow of intermittent conveying movement of the conveyor, means adapted to operate against the exterior of the carton being provided to sustain the walls of the cartons against collapse during said pressing operation.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a reciprocating cage or frame supporting fingers and adapted to be moved towards and away from a conveyor for the cartons, means being provided automatically pressing the fingers towards each other when they are located opposite sides of the carton top, and suction applying means being provided adapted to automatically sustain the walls of the carton against collapse during the pinching operation.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect drawings are appended hereto illustrating an embodiment thereof and wherein:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation,

end view and sectional plan of the mechanism for pleating and forming the open upper end of the cartons.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pleating mechanism with suction means for supporting the carton sides.

Fig. 5 isa perspective view showing a carton just before its mouth is pre-creased or folded by the mechanismof the present invention, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the carton after its mouth has been pre-creased or folded.

Referring to the drawings the cartons in the fully open form shown in Fig. 5 are deposited by suitable mechanism singly into U shaped clips 36 on the upper track of an intermittently travelling conveyor l6 and are carried by such conveyor successively beneath a device 38 which pinches inwardly symmetrically V fashion the opposed parts l1 of the carton tops so that each carton top is definitely pre-creased or folded on previously scored lines, which as shown in Fig. 5 comprise a pair of opposed inverted Y shaped scorings la (the vertical limbs of. which formthe apices of the V folded parts If), outer corner scorings lb, and horizontal scorings lc.

This device 38 is reciprocated vertically from suitable mechanism and during its descent a pair of opposed fingers carried thereby are moved towards each other automatically to pinch inwards the opposed sides l7 of the appropriate carton. To ensure that the carton is firmly seated in the clip 36 during this operation it is tamped into the clip immediately before the partial closing operation, this being efi'ected by a horizontal bar 39 projecting uni-laterally from the member 38 so as to abut against the rim of each carton immediately before it reaches the stage where it is operated upon by the device 38. contemporaneously with this partial closing operation the two walls of the carton transverse to those which are operated upon by the said pair of fingers are restrained against collapse by engaging against opposite sides Id, le thereof a pair of suction devices 48 which at the appropriate stage applies suction to the said pair of walls to constrain them against inward movement.

When each carton becomes located beneath the pinching device 38, the cage 38a of U-configuration comprising the body of this device, is lowered by the downward pull on a vertical rod H3, this rod having fixed to it the arm 2a.

from the free end of which depends a rod H2 on which is suspended the cage 38a. A coiled compression spring 38d is interposed between the free end of the arm H2 and a centre sleeve 30b of the cage, and the lower end of this centre rod H2 is provided with a head 2b which abuts against the lower end of the sleeve 381). When the cage is lowered over a carton top, one limb of'the cage abuts against a stop 3a and the 5 vertical rod H3 continues its downward movement against the influence of the spring 38d and applies an inward swinging movement to a pair of pinching fingers III! which engage the creased centre parts ii of the carton top and pinches the opposed sides inwardly V-fashion. This inward movement of the pinchers H0 is eifected by connecting to cranked extensions lllib of the pinching members links lllle pivoted to a cross bar Ill slidable vertically relatively to the cage 38a. The levers IiOb pivot on pins llila supported in lugs in the cage. Simultaneously with this inward pinching operation of the members I"), pairs of side plates H8 parallel with the plane of movement of the pinching fingers iii) are swung inwardly from a normal upward position so that their upper free ends move towards each other and thereby the fiat sides if of the top of the carton are pressed towards each other about their scorings lc inverted V fashion to complete the folding operation of the top of the carton. The plates H8 are fixed to and radiate from a pair of spindles H6 supported in bearings at the lower ends of the cage .ill and carrying a pair of pinions I I! which mesh with teeth H1 formed on the lower ends of two bars H4 depending from the cross bar Ill. The cross bar II I is of H-configuration to provide the requisite pair of limbs at one end to receive the upper ends of the two bars H4.

The two suction members II which engage opposite sides of the carton as beforesaid are a pair of cups with suction orifices covered by reticulated plates, the cups being supported by a pair of nipples carried by a pair of slotted vertical arms III which are adjustably clamped in position by studs. The nipples receive conduits I23 extending from a valve device which automatically connects the cups to a source of suction when the cage 38a moves downwardly. This valve devicecomprises a housing I24 with a spring-loaded valve having a depending pin against which abuts a collar I28 on the vertical rod H3 to cut off the suction and connect the conduit I23 to atmosphere when the rod ii! is raised. the spring-loaded valve opening automatically as the rod descends.

Guide rails 36a are located opposite sides of the conveyor 36 to firmly support and accurately guide the cartons through this pinching-in stage. It will be evident that when the cage is raised that the pinching fingers H0 will be separated and the conveyor i6 which was stationary during this pinching operation will then be moved a sufllcient distance to bring beneath coating apparatus from the conveyor Ii suitably creased so that when subsequently the cartons are filled and their tops pinched together and sealed the wax will not break away from the creases during closing, because the wax coating was applied to an already creased or partly closed carton.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for pre-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, pinching members above 2. Apparatus for pro-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprisinga conveyor for the cartons, a reciprocating frame adapted to be moved towards and away from said conveyor for the cartons, a pair of fingers carried by said frame, means automatically pressing the fingers towards each other when they are located opposite sides of a carton top, and suction applying means adapted to automatically sustain the walls of the carton against collapse during the pinching operation.

3. Apparatus for pro-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, a vertically reciprocating frame immediately above said conveyor, a pair of fingers pivotally supported in said frame, a vertically reciprocating driven member having lost motion driving connection with said frame for imparting the vertical reciprocation to said frame and also adapted to impart carton pinching movements to said fingers during movement relatively to said frame, and suction applying means adapted to sustain the walls of each carton against collapse during the pinching operation.

4. Apparatus for pro-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, a vertically reciprocating frame immediately above said conveyor, a pair of fingers pivotally supported in said frame, a vertically reciprocating driven member having lost motion driving connection with said frame and also adapted to impart carton pinching movements to said fingers during movement relatively to said frame, suction applying means adapted to sustain the walls of each carton against collapse during the pinching operation, a guide on the frame through which said vertically reciprocating driving member slides, means yieldingly opposing downward movement of the driving member relatively to said frame, and means to arrest downward movement of the frame in advance of the completion of the downward movement of said driving member to obtain said relative movement.

5. Apparatus for 'pre-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, pinching members above the conveyor adapted to be automatically pressed against opposite sides of the carton tops when the cartons are located on said conveyor beneath said members, and to automatically become disengaged from the cartons to allow of intermittent conveying movement of the conveyor, further members adapted to be pressed inverted V. fashion against opposite sides of the carton top transverse to the sides engaged by the said pinching members. and means adapted to automatically engage and operate against the exterior of the carton to sustain the walls of the cartons against collapse during the pressing operation and to automatically free the carton following the pinching operation.

6. Apparatus for prefolding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a con-- veyor for the cartons, a reciprocating frameadapted to be moved towards and away from said conveyor for the cartons, a pair of fingers by said frame, means automatically pressing the fingers towards each other when they are located opposite sidesof a carton top, a pair of opposed pivoted plates adapted to engage inverted V fashion with sides of the carton top transverse to the sides engaged by said fingers, means to move said plates in synchronism with said fingers, and suction applying means adapted to automatically sustain the walls of the carton against collapse during the pinching operation.

'7. Apparatus for pre-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, a vertically reciprocating frame immediately above said conveyor, a pair of fingers pivotally supported in said frame, a vertically reciprocating driven member having lost motion driving connection with said frame and also adapted to impart carton pinching movements to said fingers during movement relatively to said frame, suction applying means adapted to sustain the walls of each carton against collapse during the pinching operation, a guide on the frame through which said vertically reciprocating driving member slides, means yieldingly opposing downward movement of the driving member relatively to said frame, means to arrest downward movement of the frame in advance of the completion of the downward movement of said driving member to obtain said relative movement, a pair of pivoted plates carried by opposite sides of the frame and adapted to engage sides of the carton tops transverse to the sides engaged by said fingers, and means adapted to press said plates inverted V fashion against the carton top during the pinching operation.

8. Apparatus for prefolding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, pinching members above the conveyor adapted to be automatically pressed against opposite sides of the carton tops when the cartons are located on said conveyor beneath said members, and to automatically become disengaged from the cartons to allow of intermittent conveying movement of the conveyor, means to sustain the walls of the cartons against collapse during the pressing operation, and means automaticlly tamping down each carton against the conveyor in advance of the pinching operation.

9. Apparatus for pre-folding or creasing the scored mouth ends of cartons comprising a conveyor for the cartons, a vertically reciprocating frame immediately above said conveyor, a pair of fingers pivotally supported in said frame, a vertically reciprocating driven member having lost motion driving connection with said frame and also adapted to impart carton pinching movements to said fingers during movement relatively to said frame, suction applying means adapted to sustain the walls of each carton against collapse during the pinching operation, a guide on the frame through which said vertically reciprocating driving member slides, means yieldingly opposing downward movement of the driving member relatively to said frame, means to arrest downward movement of the frame in advance of the completion of the downward movement of said driving member to obtain said relative movement, a pair of pivoted plates carried by opposite sides of the frame and adapted to engage sides of the carton tops transverse to the sides engaged by said fingers, means adapted to press said plates inverted V fashion against the carton top during the pinching operation, and an abutment on said frame adapted to engage the tops of the cartons to tamp them firmly in position in advance of the operation of said fingers.

CARL WILHELM HARTMANN. 

